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Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Get rich quick

Daf Yomi Kesubos 106

Do you want to be rich?
There are all sorts of segulos
(good luck charms) to achieve wealth.
You could be a sandak (bris
baby-holder), you could overflow the washing cup for bread, you could buy Maftir Yonah (the call-up on Yom Kippur
afternoon), you could put Havdalah wine in your pockets. These tricks are all wonderful, but there’s
one sure way of achieving G-d’s blessing in your storehouse that’s a greater
guarantee than any segulah.

What is it? Concentrate
on bentching (Grace after Meals). Our Sages encourage us to focus on the
meaning of the words – it’s filled with blessings of livelihood and
sustenance. If we would merely have the
right kavanah (intent) during bentching, we would need no other segulah for material prosperity!

What would they do
with the surplus donations in the Holy Temple?
They would purchase cheap produce and sell it for a profit and use the
money to offer ‘dessert’ sacrifices on the Altar.

Rabbi Akiva demurs: We
do not do business with Temple property nor with charity funds.

Why do we avoid
profiting from Temple property? Since there is no poverty in the place of wealth. In other words, it appears skimpy and inappropriately
frugal to be stretching the Temple dollars.

Many people are not able to achieve wealth because they just
don’t have the mindset for it. They’re constantly
playing the nebbich card, asking for
handouts and being overly frugal in every aspect of their lives. They fail to realize that the Almighty has no
shortage of bounty in his storehouse and if they would simply open their minds and
hearts, the prophet says that G-d would grant them ‘limitless blessing until their
lips are worn out saying: Too much already!’

First things first, if you desire material prosperity, you
need to develop the right attitude.
There’s no place for poverty if you seek wealth. You
need to give to others with an open hand and the Almighty will give you with
His open hand. When you ask for G-d’s
blessing, don’t ask him for a two dollar an hour raise, ask him for a promotion! You don’t need segulos to achieve material prosperity – just ask your Father in
Heaven to provide!

It’s no mitzvah to be ascetic and shun wealth. The Almighty wants you to enjoy His
bounty. He wants you to ask for His
bounty. It’s your choice if you want to
be stingy and skimpy – from G-d’s perspective, He has no shortage of blessing
to bestow. You simply need to open your
mind and start thinking big so that He can pour out His Heavenly blessing upon
you!

Stop thinking small.
Start inviting G-d’s favour into your life. May you merit so much prosperity that you
fulfill the words of the prophet and have to say: Too much already!